Chittenden County, Vermont City of Essex Junction, 9 Nov 2022

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From YouTube: Essex Junction City Council - November 9, 2022

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https://www.essexjunction.org/fileadmin/files/Board_of_Trustees/2022_Packets/CityCouncil_Packet_20221107.pdf

00:00:00 Liquor Board Meeting
00:02:23 Local Cannabis Control Commission
00:13:36 Approve Agenda
00:14:10 Public to be Heard
00:34:10 GBIC Presentation
00:47:33 Conversation with Fire Chief Chris Gaboriault
00:58:41 Miscellaneous Municipal Ordinance Issues
01:24:17 Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Presentation
01:34:11 Consent Items
01:34:35 Reading File/Board Member Comments
01:36:42 Enter Executive Session
01:40:57 Back from Executive Session

This video belongs to http://www.cctv.org and published with permission under Creative Commons License CCTV Center for Media & Democracy Programming is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

A

So welcome everybody. I will go ahead and call the meeting to order for the city of Essex Junction liquor board meeting for Wednesday November 9th 2022. To order do we have any agenda editions or changes for tonight?

A

Hearing none no need to approve the agenda. Go right into business item 4A a discussion consideration a first-class restaurant bar license for Namaste Garden.

B

So uh we received this application. The.

C

B

Voted that we can do this, so it's exciting. um It's a new um restaurant Namaste Garden. um These applications come through the clerk's office. We get the payment, half goes to the state, half comes to us um and we haven't thought through or process of doing this on our own. We certainly can, but we followed the town policy, which is to get a criminal background check through the police department. So as far as I know, we don't have that yet.

B

So if um but I didn't want to hold this up and wait since it's a new restaurant. So if it's the recommendation, if you're open to it, is to um approve it with those uh pending yeah appreciate.

A

That Regina I think just especially given the fact that we're at a point in time in the year where we might not be meeting as often as we normally do, we don't want to delay them in their capability, so I would certainly entertain the motion.

D

Yeah I'll make a motion that we approve the first class uh restaurant bar uh license from Namaste Garden pending um the outcome of the uh the police for the the criminal background check and.

A

The receipt of the application fee.

D

A

Great second, thank you, Raj, any further discussion hearing, none all in favor, please signify by saying aye, aye they'll supposed to be say, nay, Grace that passed unanimously. Thank you all that would conclude the business of the uh liquor board meeting. So I would entertain a motion to adjourn the liquor board meeting.

E

A

You thank you any further discussion hearing, none all in favor signify by saying aye, those opposed, please say, nay, great Liquor, Control Board is done. We're gonna do this one more time for a different board before we get into the full city council meeting so bear with us everybody.

A

The next item uh welcome everybody call the meeting to order for the city of Essex Junction, local cannabis, Control Commission call that meeting to order for Wednesday, November, 9th 2022 any agenda additions or changes.

A

Great counselors. Anything great forgot to ask that earlier sorry, let's jump into business item 4A and discussion and consideration of the tier one indoor cultivation license.

B

So uh you've got an application in front of you, and these folks are here, um and so essentially uh they've got a tier one. Cannabis uh cultivation license from the state pending local approval.

B

um The LDC changes that the city council put in adopted on October 14th come into effect. October 5th only allow cultivation in one zoning District, the planned agricultural zoning District, um uh and these folks are in a residential zoning District, um so uh they've applied for the home occupation and as acting zoning administrator I've denied that they've got an appeal for that. That will move forward through the development review board, um but also as a part of this uh local cannabis.

B

Control Commission uh would issue a license uh for this operation, but again staff's perspective is based on the ldcs that were amended um I. My position is that I don't think you have authority to approve the license, um but that's what you've got in front of you.

A

Thank you Regina, and uh we can't change the Land Development code as it stands. So really, the only thing we can do tonight is either to approve or deny given the facts that we have in front of us. Yeah absolutely I just wanted to help to make sure to frame it, um but please feel free to come on up. I set up the the table here with the microphone. So that way everybody can hear you. If you don't mind.

B

F

C

Is really kind of the the proprietor of Passion Fruit Farms and we understand the Land Development change codes. However, um we did our own research and stuff I. Actually we did a real job stay at home and throw weed he goes to the hospital.

C

I actually worked for a law firm, so we're you know trying to end this stigma around marijuana cultivation, um so I just like to say that first, it seems that the Land Development code, however, isn't in compliance with State Statute, which says that you must treat cannabis related businesses as any other business, meaning if we do meet the requirements for a home occupancy permit that you must give it to us- and you cannot deny it on the sole reasoning that it's cannabis related, which is what several of your emails and correspondences with Regina of no fault of her.

D

C

Has made clear so I'm just wondering: does that stand hold if your Land Development code is not in compliance with State Statute as.

A

This was being developed, it was being developed with consultation of our attorney as well. Who's told us all, along the way that we've been doing things legally uh in the right legal way and has had ABS, especially with this one component, that we were legally authorized to do this. So we we have that of our of our attorney. Who tells us we can so that's.

C

We also so maybe that is something you know. Obviously it's an interpretation of the law, so our attorney said you know we're. They were happy to come with us tonight, but they were like you.

B

Understand the.

C

Argument you can articulate it very clearly and if, if so, then we're happy to act on your behalf, so obviously we don't want it to get litigious. It seems very simple and and like easy that you would make that decision in our favor, considering Essex Villages technically the one.

A

That falls so, given that we do have an opinion from our attorney. That tells us how we should do this for us to then go against our own attorney's opinion personally is not something that I really want to do possible.

C

To get that written up from your attorney, could we get a write-up about his reasoning and his answer to our basically our statement that Essex villages in violation of State, Statute, 24 and 27 and subsections of those.

A

As those who were more involved, yeah.

G

I mean we also have this from the um attorney for the canvas control board. Yes, um that what we're doing is in compliance. Okay,.

C

But do you have that in a written statement from them that we could actually refer.

G

To our information, I'm, not sure if that's appropriate in this case, though, if.

A

We or I'm sure it exists somewhere and we can get back with our with our attorney about whether that's client attorney privilege, whether that's something.

C

That's open record, but that's what your attorney is filing. Then they should have no problem. Giving that over. Is that something that we would have to have our attorney request from your attorney.

A

I would likely suggest that just given that, frankly, with attorney to attorney, can make things a little bit quicker and easier in some ways right so.

C

None of us are attorneys, so you guys aren't able to be helpful for.

A

Tomorrow, I wouldn't say it's not able to be helpful. It's following the guidance from our attorney and for us to then not follow. The guidance from our attorney would open us up to other potential issues down the road you.

C

Don't think that following the state statute would be more beneficial to your position. I'm.

A

Not going to change my response, okay, thank you. Well,.

C

We appreciate it can.

D

I can I, please feel free to comment. I, I, don't and I don't want to get involved in the discussion of the attorneys and I think it would be great if you to to communicate and clear it up to you. um The only thing I would say is that the reason for our zoning to understand it if someone wants to have a a dairy farm or an apple orchard or you know, grow for any kind of commercial use of Agriculture and I think this was one of the things that I I was confused about.

D

That came down the road with all this. It's that we we obviously as a city where we have really confined quarters for most of it. We have a long time ago. There they started regulating agricultural production and said it can only happen in one part of the city, and it can't happen anywhere. You want and I think there's. It seemed to me that there was obviously going to be and I understand exactly what you're saying a conflict between what the state was saying that this should be.

D

There shouldn't be anything that inhibits the Cannabis, and so it does I did see this conflict coming and so I'm not surprised, but I wanted to just give you the background of why we have these these zoning regulations so.

C

I just want to put this before you right.

D

C

We've asked this and we've received the same answer as well. So if somebody was throwing tomatoes on a tier one, cultivation level met all of the requirements for a home occupancy. Permit we've heard from your office that you guys would ramp that, but not because it's cannabis related. So that was the reason that was given back to us. If we were growing tomatoes, you guys would allow it home occupancy permit, but if because it's cannabis related that that's the reason for the denial.

C

So that's what we have in an email, that's what's in violation and if we meet all of the requirements for a home occupancy permit, then we should the uh approved for that, because.

G

C

Can't discriminate just because we're cannabis related so.

G

In our conversations with the CCB and our attorney, this um we're not doing this is discriminating against cannabis. Okay,.

C

The highlighted.

G

Sections of the code that you or the uh statutes excuse me that you that you brought with you when you're in the appeal um the determination from the CCD and from our attorney is that we are treating this as we would any other business. There are several business types in the chart that we don't allow in other places it's for the LDC, then this is one of them, and so it's it's. You know I hear what you're saying, but we how.

C

Is the opinion of.

G

C

But we meet all of the requirements.

C

So that's when I'm, not understanding we're, not changing anything 's, no signs, there's not nobody's coming anything. We have secure cameras, we don't want people coming to our company, we're Distributing off the property to other licensed State like State licensed individuals that we have contracts with that are followed and recorded by the state down to the gram, we're not doing any sort of sales we're not in a restricted retail area which we have no interest in doing we don't want to open the shop we don't want to sell.

C

We just want to grow and get it off of our property. The same that to me, tomato Growers would do for a farmer's market, we're not doing anything that is considered illegal by the state of Vermont and we're not our license. Isn't pending, we have, it is active. Our person came, they said your license is active.

C

It's not pending anything, so you certainly could go back and and say no we're not going to do that, but I think that that would just be perpetuating the stigma against marijuana and if you really want to help people be Innovative and have businesses in Essex and in Chittenden County and in Vermont in general. You should really be more supportive of that.

A

A

If anything else, counselors no not I would entertain the motion, as we have in front of us.

D

um I move that the Essex Junction local cannabis, Control Commission denied the tier one. Indoor cultivation license for Adrian lonza fashion, Fruit, Farms, LLC,.

A

Second, thank you George. Thank you, Dan. Any further discussion, I I would.

D

Like to see uh some written resolution of this fairly soon that's the week because it's for all parties concerned uh because it it is confusing I, do it I think we agree that there's a a nucleus of confusion at the center of this eye. In my opinion, that.

G

Has been a part of the conversation with.

D

G

State and our lawmakers for sometimes.

D

And I think we we go into to the applicants as well to give them some clear kind of guidance here, and you know yeah.

A

All right, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye aye- that was a post, please say, nay great, so that passed unanimously. Thank you all and at that moment I would entertain the motion to adjourn the uh local cannabis, Control Commission, so moved any further discussion hearing, none all in favorably signify by saying aye.

F

A

Supposed to be say, nay, great, thank you, everybody and now welcome everybody to the city of Essex, Junction, City, council meeting for Wednesday, November, 9th 2022, third time's a charm all the meeting to order and do we have any agenda editions or changes.

B

B

H

B

To come earlier, if we are at a place where we could move him up earlier, that'd be great he's just at another meeting and so.

A

Yeah, we were expecting him at about 7 30, uh but given how that may change, if we don't mind having some flexibility, that'd be great all right. So no changes no need to approve the agenda. So now we can go into the public to be heard. So now is a portion of tonight's meeting where, if there are members of the public who wish to bring something to the board's attention, that is not on the agenda, now was the time to do so.

A

For those of you who are using uh Zoom, please go ahead, raise your hand, so that that way, I can make sure to call on you as well for those in the room. If you could just raise your hand, so I can see how many people would be interested at speaking in public to be heard for those items not on the agenda. If it is on the agenda, we will make time for that. Okay, so one in the room I see one on Zoom, so we'll go ahead and start with those in the room Annie.

A

If you'd like to go ahead, please come on up.

I

Hi, it's a crap shoot. If my voice is gonna come out, let's go.

I

I'm not normally nervous when I'm, in a room with you guys, but um I want to make sure that what I'm saying is effectively communicating by me and heard by you.

I

um As some of you know, I had made a post to Facebook and there was some intense discussion about whether or not I should have posted that to Facebook and so forth.

I

um Some Community residents not on boards, not staff work, saying I should have done so you know, but I was ruminating out loud and I want to do that now and I want to ruminate and I guess I'm the questions I'm going to ask are more well they're. A little rhetorical and mostly I want to know.

I

Like I stood in the Stream of science, for you guys I'm here for you, you know I I trust. You I'm happy that you're here, Amber Amber also um and my questions are in ruminations and I'll. Get to my point soon. I'm sorry are more like I. Guess: I want to make sure you're thinking them too, because if you are then then sorry 57 hot blush.

I

If you are then I feel good, and so some of what I'm going to say, I know you're already thinking of but I want to just lay it all out there so that my community knows that I'm thinking about it and that we can travel forward together. Well, okay, I, didn't really say anything yet um so.

I

The other day on Facebook in our Citigroup Village group, uh Community resident the idea that they were concerned that there had been a fee collected um for an event and the manner in which it was put forth, understandably created some friction in the discussion.

I

For me, it made me consider thoughts, I was already having and it made me look at the bigger picture so, for example, four weeks previous. To this event, we had been giving out money in villagers to our residents so out and about Slash Junction gym.

I

We gave freely and happily and joyously right well spent idea that the tax dollars that we have can be utilized to do two things. One put money into our actually three things right, four put money into our residence hands: have that money, because it's a voucher and that voucher can, for those who know out and about in Essex and Junction gym is a a. It was a third event.

I

Fourth, if we count the original uh outside One, open and outside that, the vouchers are tax dollars that we that the council and then trustee is at the time decided, would go into participating businesses to kind of make sure people are shopping locally and inject money where the pandemic has a problem, it went so well.

I

We kept doing it great huge fan, as you know, but when this Resident was concerned about the fee that got charged and I don't want to be offensive to staff, that's you, but I'm, going to say what it is so that we all know it was the Halloween event at egrp and it was a five dollar you could, if I get it wrong. Please someone correct me: five dollar, you could pay ahead of time, um ten dollar day off for I.

I

Think a group of five or seven I don't know, um and so the query by the resident was. Why am I paying for this and some responses were you know it cost a lot to put together such an event. The event is amazing.

I

The event is incredible: it's getting bigger every year, people are leaving the silly Hill event, which I guess doesn't happen anymore. To come, see this it's great. The event is amazing: the community loves it that's great, um and so, when the query about the charge was put forth, the city Resident was unaware, through nobody's fault, that there would be a fee and when the city resident arrived there with their child, they could view the the preliminary component, but not do the trick-or-treat piece. Fine, that's the rules, whatever um she was surprised.

I

She was surprised and then left because at that moment did not have the ability to do so for me watching our community shut. That down was shocking because we're here for equity right we're constantly talking about Equity. That's our work! That's what we're doing and to me in this situation. That's not equitable.

I

It doesn't live in the space of equity that we discuss.

I

Now, how do we resolve such a thing right? It's not easy to put forth the activities it's expensive to put forth. What do we do? Are we looking at the bigger picture? Four weeks previously, we gave residents fifteen dollars a piece to put into businesses.

I

It's it's baffling not baffling like, but wait a minute. We have to look at this. That's what I'm trying to say that my my questions are. Why aren't we looking at the bigger picture of events and how the year is going? Why aren't we determining how to more equitably, distribute funds and create space, because for me, I'd rather all climb back into it again and start helping sponsorships to run the junction jam and let's make sure that the Halloween event is free? Well, what do we need to do to make it free?

I

How do we live in equity because Halloween and trick-or-treating should not cost money, but this event needs money. It's a great event right. How do we do that so I'm I, I right and then again, no offense to staff that happens to be in the room and I probably should have been saying it anyway, because they're watching their stuff, the the cost I'm not sure how it gets, determined and I. Don't personally want to know.

I

I just want to know that you know and I want to know that you're wanting to find out I don't need to know why or how. But those were my questions and I blurted them out on Facebook, because the level of aggression towards the original question was really frustrating me that the original post on Facebook about um about. Why the why the event costs money there were a lot of people really kind of arguing that this is a great event.

I

Why are you it's only if you bring if you bring your neighbor's kids, it's only such and such a dollars per person, but when we look at Equity we don't look at it like that and then I want to know. Are you asking the right questions? Are you thinking to yourself? Why does it cost this much? How did we get to this fee? um Are you asking yourself? Why was Cash preferred?

I

Can we not do something less messy than this? It's dark out. Cash is changing hands, it's just messy. It just doesn't have to happen that way. In my opinion, it doesn't have to be your opinion too, but when I go in and pay my seven dollar fee for my dog license, if it's still seven dollars, I, don't remember: I get a handwritten receipt right, that's how a cash transaction should occur. There's I mean, maybe maybe it did happen like that, but I can't imagine it what what are our transactions?

I

How do we ingest money and is it clean and appropriate to 2022, and do you know how the decisions get made about the pricing I'm? Not asking you to tell me I'm over it I mean so I don't mean I'm over it. I mean I just want to know that you're thinking about this and then sorry I've been talking so long.

I

Like I want to make sure that we're that we're serving equity for real and not just talking about and creating committees for it I want to make sure we're actually doing it, um and then this is an actual question that I hope we can get and I'm sorry I'm almost done I'm. Sorry I really did talk too much um like.

I

Is it possible to have a kind of flow chart for those of us who are residents to understand how our government works? I remember when I was in elementary school, which was a very long time ago, like in the 70s early 70s, that there was like some kind of flowchart for how government worked right, so our schools could use it like if we put together a good one, it's great, because it really is to me it should be in history books that we became a separate City. It's amazing what you all did it's amazing.

I

Can we create a a flow chart or something that explains what each department is? What the titles and roles are? It doesn't matter who's in them. That's that doesn't matter, but how it functions. How does our government function down to everything, for example, which departments ingest money you know and why not not why like, why but like why and and how does it work and who's in charge of that?

I

Does the you know, does the I don't know Jess's full title finance office, Finance direct hydrogen I'm Annie nice to meet you finance director like how does that work? So my curiosity and I hope it's yours and I hope. Other people wonder this too, is how does it work from City Council through our new manager? Welcome again, if I didn't say that you know through everything what is the functionality of each department, what are the names of each department? How many do we have do they ingest ingest money? If so, how?

I

What are the checks and balances we have in place? Does invoicing get involved? If so, how does invoicing work, where's the checks and balances for that? How does that work simply because I want to know and I I want to actually not be asking this, because I want to know that you want to know too so for me, when I elected you, it's because good you're doing it I'm thrilled you're there can you do you know?

I

Can you so I just want to know that you're having the same ruminations and that you want to know the same answers and that we come together to have those answers and that is really transparent. I'm not saying you're, not transparent, now I'm, just saying that all all the details um names of each department roles within which Department's in just money how it occurs, who determines what amounts are like, for example, fees for businesses, let's say Village, let's say previous to Regina who's. Very kindly! Writing the song.

I

I really appreciate you doing that um if a business comes and there's a fee for them to be here whatever that is, who decides that is it decided by the head of the department like which role decides that so I don't want.

A

To be rude to anybody, yeah I'm.

I

Almost finished great, thank you and then um how can we learn more about those things as they occur, um and then how does the city budget work in regards to those departments which com which pieces of our budget go there and how much of ingested money covers costs versus what the budgetary money covers and who decides that and then here's my here's, my big other question.

I

Once funds- let's take our village or horses for example- was it 10 I think it was ten thousand that went to our villager voices am I right, eight thousand ten thousand? How much money went to our village, our voices, it was decided in a meeting I think it was 10.

A

They're about okay.

I

Who accounts for that? How much got spent? Is it a line? Item thing that does it and who I know is? Maybe it's true? Does it come in the book that I get every year? Is that accounted for literally before my eyes, and then, if I understand correctly at the end of each fiscal year, unspent money goes back into a general fund right.

I

Is it a is? It literally accounted for as it goes back into the general fund, and how do we, as residents learn what those numbers are and how that got accounted for and I would have that question for all of the budget and how and what happens at Year's, End, fiscal, Year's, End and Year's End all right. Thank you very much for letting me talk so much.

A

And just real quick, a lot of what you're talking about is great uh the broader educate our community as to what the role is of the board of Staff. um How we are we, as a policy board, help them oversee the policies that our staff then carry out the discretion. Then that staff have the role of the annual external audit that we have every year in terms of checks and balance, uh the only other portion is really quickly talk about with Equity.

A

We have not as a board had any conversation, I believe since we've separated truly focused on Equity, so we certainly have a lot of room to go in that. um But many of the things that you've you've asked about are things that we do talk about on a regular basis. Also during the budget meeting that we have the day-long budget meeting uh presentations from our our staff when they come to us the annual audit when that comes so, we certainly have these conversations.

A

There's definitely a lot of good feedback of ways that we can better educate the community great.

I

Thank you so much for your time, and thanks for all you do thank.

A

I

Thanks Amber too I can't see.

A

So there was nobody else in the room uh on Zoom I see that Jeff Wazowski has a question go ahead. If you can unmute yourself, uh the floor is yours.

J

Oh I, don't have a question. I wanted to comment myself on my very own time. Is this supposed to be for follow-ups to Annie.

A

uh If you want to address any questions or comments to me, that's greatly appreciated.

J

Okay, so this is just the public comment and now I get my chance to.

H

Do public comment right.

J

Yes, okay, so I'm the person I'm. The person who started the whole scrum on Facebook and I am also a single parent solo income teacher in the public school system in Burlington and I'm also super entitled, because I grew up in Essex Junction I spent 13 years of my childhood here, I helped fight for and then established. The teen center called couches in my Mom's van to get them in there I'm Overjoyed that it still exists.

J

I've been a taxpayer and homeowner here for nine years and I feel I feel like super entitled to be able to speak out in spaces like Facebook in ways that other people aren't and I very much feel like it's important to be a person that speaks out. Oh also is involved in the Essex governance group.

J

When this child was one year old, she would sit on the floor at Essex, High School doodling, as I met with people from the town in the junction, and it was in response to like multiple front porch Forum posts of people saying how crazy the voting was in Essex.

J

And why can't we just sort things out for good and I would establish those meetings and then finally, first we all got together and there were like 10 people in the room, and it was amazing because that many people cared to get together and sure it ended up in a divorce. But this is sometimes when things get better right.

J

So I feel very also invested in like helping this place, that we are like figure out what we, what we want to be and I I was frustrated, because when I showed up that evening, I thought it was the Big Pumpkin lighting, because I remember a fond memory, pre-covered of big pumpkin lighting being a thing that you could go down to and it was filled with people Milling around and just some fire pits and I think there was a Storyteller somebody had hired and there might have been free, cider or something.

J

But uh when we went down it was just a giant line, two lines because you had the line of people going: One Direction and the other line looping around to get into the park, and it was a paid event and I was meeting my mom and my daughter there and um we didn't have enough cash on us between us to go in and it's a is a candy Trail which she went to the candy Trail when it was held also for free at the Champlain Valley fairgrounds, which she was a wee one and too young to do trick-or-treating.

J

But it was so lovely and so fun and we got to see high school kids and fire people work in the fire department and stuff. So it was like really wonderful and really fun and uh we've always been involved in parks and rec like she went there for daycare from ages three to five and does after school care there. So like. We are huge supporters of Parks and Recreation and you would think we'd be on an email list. But there is not I guess. An email list is everything's opposed on Facebook and I'm.

J

A working parent, solo, parent, uh full-time parent, all the time for this child and I, don't see everything on Facebook because it's beheld into algorithms. So if the post that they made about the fact that it was going to be ten dollars came at 2 p.m, when it spiked in my feed and I, wasn't looking online I wouldn't have had away enough, knowing it I, even dug back on their Facebook posts and the tile that they were sharing, didn't, say the amount at the door. It was the comments that they wrote.

J

That said the amount of the door or like one of the tiles they might have made five different tiles, but I've worked in social media. I've worked online I feel like both in the Outreach that they did to alert people that you could pre-register and that it was going to be a paid event and also the fact that the pumpkin lighting went from being a free fun, easy event to something that I had to plan for round up some other people for it.

J

Because it's just two of us and it's a ten dollar entry fee like it. It wouldn't have been a thing probably would have gone to anyway. So that was my big complaint, but I think that I, don't know, I think it's a straw. Man argument for people's feelings to be all hurt over this because I'm not insulting anybody who put it on or saying it wasn't a wonderful event. I'm saying do we want to be a community that charges ten dollars for residents for community events? That's it that's the end of the story.

J

um I would like to think we can find a way to maybe make it super clear when events are charged only or look at ways of making intergenerational all community events and then maybe family events or events to cash in on Outsiders, because it sounds like from what people shared privately with me. The reason they charged is because so many Outsiders came so if we're trying to cash in on Outsiders coming to Essex Yahtzee, that's great like how about make it be one of those kid events that people are scrambling for.

B

J

For little kids, just like the Halloween trail, but maybe don't do it on public property that people normally would have access to and like sort of ruin, the other event that was held for free for years, which is going to see the pumpkin lighting.

J

um That's it I also think that we should have kayaking access to the Winooski River somewhere in Essex because of all the towns south of Jonesville. We don't have any we're like the only one that doesn't have any so that was a secondary point, but I would happily do a presentation on that in the future. Thank you for listening.

A

Thank you, Jess all right, I see no other hands up, so that will end public to be heard and we'll jump into business. Item 5A, which is a presentation from gbic and I, see that we have Sam Anderson here from gbic hello, Sam, hello,.

K

Thank you so much for inviting me to uh speak to you this evening. um I truly appreciate it.

K

Gbic has always uh appreciated the support of the now city of Essex Junction and the town um in my letter, uh requesting that you consider a contribution for fy24 um I put in the amount that both entities have generously given us in the recent past.

K

To be candid, we never dove into who gave what as far as amounts our support for Essex Junction and the town does not waver.

K

um We still put in consistent work um with the businesses and the community and since March of 2020, the state asked us to also step up working with businesses that have not traditionally been in our wheelhouse, such as commercial retail, food and beverage, in helping get them the information about the various grants and forgivable loan programs that arpa and the state have put out.

K

um It's um been a bucket of work. However, it's been joyous in uh getting to know all sorts of businesses, um because we usually deal with dollar importing and value-added businesses such as your large employer, Global foundries, and we're there working with them on a variety of issues. Monthly um and uh we're thrilled to do so. I am not going to presume to give you a specific request.

K

You know traditionally, um the two municipalities.

K

Graciously contributed 7 500 dollars.

K

um This will be your first year, separated in a long time. I hope you still feel strongly about supporting the work that we do um and I leave it to your good judgment.

K

Best case scenario, I would hope each municipality would divide that amount and continue to support us. But it's up to you and I: don't want to be presumptuous. The most important thing to gbi see is your contribution demonstrates support to the work and activity that we conduct every year and that's the most important part of your contribution.

K

But we're well aware of every thing that um structures at every Municipal budget is space. I do enjoy attending the municipal managers meetings, which are hosted by the regional Planning Commission. Our partner and I always work to bring valuable information to that monthly meeting um to our Municipal partners.

K

If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them um in the requests letter, we also included our performance dashboard um that I hope you've had an opportunity to look at which tells you throughout Chittenden County how many businesses we've worked with, how we've assisted them, because not everyone who lives in the village in the sorry city of that sixth Junction works within at Six, Junction, um I'm, confident you have residents that work and other businesses throughout the county.

K

Oh yeah, you have any questions, I'm happy to try and answer them.

A

Thank you, Sam I think what, um unless I'm mistaken, uh to be quite direct I, don't think gbic has come to our one of our boards meetings in the past, given that our contribution has always been through the town of Essex. So from my perspective, this is a first time, conversation uh and really appreciate having this this again, unless I'm mistaken and have missed something which is always possible yeah.

A

K

Gee I'm horrified, but to my knowledge, you received a letter via yours. At the time unified managed.

K

Both municipalities.

A

Right uh and my recollection of this is the first time, though, to have a conversation with gbic besides receiving a letter, all right, so something that just might be helpful is what does the gbic do, and how would this this contribution help gbic and thus then be able to help our community.

A

uh It was great to hear how uh gbic was is recently being asked to go beyond industrial, which is fantastic, given that, while we have Global foundries, we have many other types of commercial businesses here in our community that we care very deeply about and want to be just as successful, if not more so than than global foundries.

K

Right and um I'd be happy to gbic, which stands for the greater Burlington in Australia. Corporation is one of the 12 non-profit, Regional development corpse called rdcs that exists throughout Vermont and we each have a region. In our case it is Chittenden County. We were formed by a volunteer board in 1954., and one thing we did shortly after formation, which gbic is very proud of.

K

We built the first building that I became, came and leased from us when they came to Essex, Junction gbic, built that and leased to IBM and we've been a partner with them and now global. Ever since um we also develop at the request of the state um different projects. For example, we have something called the regional priority list and your new town city manager is very familiar with this Regina um who sat on the committee when she was with the RPC.

K

We identify the top 10 Regional priority projects, which is requested by the northern borders, nbrc Regional Commission. By being on that list, you can qualify for extra points when you apply for an nbrc Grant.

K

We review that list twice a year and I'm very pleased to say. We currently have two projects for as the city of Essex Junction on that Regional priority list and I'm in touch with your staff for updates twice annually on those projects. They're then ranked by a committee which is formed of staff from gbic in the regional Planning Commission, and then we just completed that review uh about 10 days ago, and then we submit this document to the state and it can help the projects in the top 10.

K

Needless to say, because we're we work with Chittenden County, um our list is longer than that. We have up to 16 projects, but it's the first 10 that can qualify for an mbrc Grant.

K

However, if you're on the list, no matter where you rank, the legislature is now saying it's important to be on the list to qualify for other Grant and a forgivable loan programs.

K

um So we work on that document, we're also in the middle of working on a set comprehensive, Economic, Development strategy.

K

You may remember about 18 years ago we did one and now we're doing a new sense with three other counties. We are the West Central region and it's Chittenden County Addison County, Washington, County, Rutland County and two towns in Orange County, um and our second draft has just been released on that document. It does planning- and this has taken- we've been working on this- for what Regina, you're gonna have I believe it was early, 2021 March that we started on this.

K

We work on this document for the purpose of presenting it to the federal Eda Economic Development Authority, and by doing so it will permit us to qualify as an economic development. District EDD.

K

Can you tell the world of Economic Development loves acronyms.

K

By doing so, it will make us put us in a position to qualify for more federal funds for infrastructure projects and designated high priority Economic Development projects and I hope I haven't lost you on this. It's a world.

F

K

A world I adore, but it can be a little dry when I explain it.

A

It's been very helpful. Thank you. Sam uh counselors have other questions. I.

D

D

K

I would always love to come back now make this uh yearly Moment In Time.

A

Great, we appreciate that Sam. Thank you. Thank you.

K

Okay, thank you for your consideration.

A

All right, uh next on our agenda, we have a conversation with our fire chief Chris gaborio, hello, chief gaborial.

L

Nice to see you good evening good to see you.

B

H

I'm just going to bring up my presentation.

H

L

So I'm good so put together a few slides just to uh recap, kind of where we are here in the department where we are going this year. um I know a topic. That's always on everybody's mind is Staffing, so um we continue to have some some very good success next door.

L

um We we've finally come to realize that uh you know in years past you were always looking for those members that would that would you know, reside in Essex, Junction owned own property and would be here, for you know, 10 years and we'd have them on the department for a long time, and that's just not the case anymore.

L

So uh you know we realized that that most of the the volunteers that come through the door to uh join our organization, a lot of them, do not own property and and tend to be uh apartment dwellers and um that's all good. So, um needless to say, we've um we're we're seeing more of a turnover.

L

um You know seeing that three or four people every year that that move on in life move out um but lucky for us. We've got those three or four others coming in the door, so um we're working to maintain Staffing our Target, if you would is, is right around that 25 to 35 individuals to support the operation and right now we're approaching 35, so we're uh we're maintaining.

L

So that's all good um moving along call volume again it's amazing year over year. It just never seems to change. We fall right within that 500 550 call volume. That's we're on track to do that uh this year as well.

L

It's uh pretty much uh 30, 35, 60, 65 split, so we're doing that EMS that first response in in assisting with Essex rescue so for what happens is if Essex rescue was committed to another call and another call for for EMS comes in for the village for the city of Essex Junction, um we get our first response gets dispatched, so we have about uh admts that um that are on the department and they will respond directly to that location and provide aid until that next responding ambulance arrives.

L

So that's that's! The split pretty much uh like I said a 70 30 split for fire to EMS um one big um project. We've been working on this year and we were successful with obtaining an aemt license so that just that allows our EMTs to operate for those that are trained at a higher level of or to provide a higher level of care for individuals.

L

um Most of your ambulances in the area respond are, you know, operate at that level. We now as a first response service, will operate at that same level. So you know we can. We can provide that same amount of care for that individual and basically expedites that transfer from what we've done to um what that ambulance crew is, is going to take over and do as well.

A

What we heard not that long ago, from Essex rescue about just some of their struggles, both in terms of their ability to have Staffing um their their model and having the the uh the Personnel to help respond to calls. Is this something? Where is? Is this complementary to Essex rescue? Is it something? Where are there calls that the Essex Junction fire department could then respond to that? Essex rescue may not then need to to maybe divert the need for them going to calls, or is this.

L

No, we would so we would never take a call. I mean we. Our service basically supports that ambulance um and again, if we're dispatched it's only because Essex rescue is on another call, so we're going to provide that assistance until the next responding ambulance comes in so um again, Essex dispatch would take the call if Essex rescues on a call. They have a whole Matrix, we'll go okay. Next, responding ambulance is St, Mike's St Mike's is busy. We go to Colchester Colchester is busy. We go to Williston, it's all district three board.

L

Has that all laid out, so we would yeah we we don't have the ability to transport. um We don't have any of that. So again, we're just there to provide that service and a EMT license just allows us to to do more things. We will be able to uh you'll have individuals that will be able to start NIV will be able to if a if an individual needs fluids they'll be able to administer that um if we have an unresponsive patient, we need to establish an airway they'll. Be able to do that so.

A

At this point in time, there's no goal to replace what Essex rescue is doing or to take the calls over that Essex rescue has been doing, but rather, if they can to help ensure that there's something that at least can happen until Essex, rescue or another entity could arrive. Correct. Okay,.

L

We have, we do not have the the resources to staff, an ambulance, we don't have the re, we don't have the room to Park an ambulance. We don't have a facility to to have people on call so again, we're just there to assist um and provide care until that that next ambulance arrives so.

A

If I hear questions from the community about so does this mean Essex Junction fire department is going to become a rescue organization? The quick answer is no absolutely.

L

Okay, absolutely.

A

F

L

Not a problem at all, um but again the nice thing is, is you've got people you've got people that are trained to that. um You know they do have some paramedics on board but to have an AMT of a EMT available.

L

um It's not uncommon to have them, say, hey well. Can we take that resource with us to the hospital okay? So if they're you know they have a two-person staff. uh You know based on the care, that's needed. They need a third person, um not uncommon to see one of our EMTs go with them. So um that's just a a good thing for us.

A

I guess actually one other related question if we're providing some type of Emergency Medical Service. Is that then, something that we would then bill for build insurance company for.

L

No, that's uh again that would all be Essex rescue, Essex rescue or the responding ambulance would bill for that service. But um again we provide that as a service. We don't we don't there's no income and- and we don't get compensated for anything that that we provide thank you and um yeah. Last but not least, uh just talking about some equipment upgrades um I know we had some funding in the budget for thermal imaging cameras. We do have those on order.

L

Unfortunately, we still have not received them to date, but they're supposed to be here before the end of the year, so they did have some manufacturing issues that they had to overcome um in the meantime. So we have a large thermal imaging camera. If you would on each one of the apparatus. We have lost two this past year, so we've only got one large one, but we did purchase some smaller ones. We have those available in in the apparatus as well. So we are certainly our timing.

L

We are in need of thermal imaging cameras, but again they've committed to having them to us before year end and then the other. The other thing that we've been working on is uh converting a lot of our small equipment uh from gas powered to battery powered so um just easier to operate easier to use faster, quicker, um so the association that raises money on the side um we actually went to them and they purchased some new positive pressure fans for us.

L

So with that, we're we're eliminating and getting rid of our gas powered fans um which was just cumbersome to use they're heavy they're, larger you've got a gas engine.

L

Now we have to have a metal exhaust pipe that we have to run to exhaust away from the opening that we're you know trying to pump clean air into um so now, it's uh literally just a matter of bringing a fan to a door and pressing a button, and uh it operates so no cords, no power, no gasoline, no choke, no pull so uh so it just makes it just makes our job easier and that's that's one of the focuses to to again get in do our job and get people back to the station.

L

So we can get home right so um yeah.

A

I asked my questions.

D

I, don't have any I I think I'm looking forward to getting more into your budget and your operations uh in about about three weeks from now, um but I appreciate the update very much. No.

L

Problem, thank you. I think you'll, like the numbers that we present.

A

Well, we certainly do appreciate what we what we get for, that that value. If you will appreciate the time of view of your members in general, no, uh your your membership broadly so really do appreciate that, and please do as always pass the appreciation on to the full membership of ejfd absolutely will do all.

G

Right trivial, but everybody loves seeing them on Halloween. Yes,.

I

B

It sounds silly, but you.

I

Know everybody's, like oh they're. Finally, here.

L

Yeah I know it's, uh they were, they were upset that they we, you know, we weren't be able to get out the last couple of years with kovid. um So again, this year was uh was a good year, so I know we supported. uh We supported the operation over here at the Maple Street Park and they were able to get on the Halloween night. So everybody was happy about that.

G

Yeah I think the police were playing uh Ghostbusters, yep um songs as well. It was pretty funny anyway.

A

It's a good time perfect. Thank you all.

H

Right, thank you. Mm-Hmm.

A

All right: next, we have a discussion and consideration of miscellaneous Municipal ordinance issues.

B

Yeah, so um let me find my.

F

B

B

All right, so the trustee is back in September uh 2021 adopted um a new public nuisance ordinance and as we were, trying to get that up online, we realized there's a number of sections of your existing Municipal ordinance ordinance that now is redundant.

B

um So really, the intention here of this effort isn't necessarily to do anything different than what was adopted in September 2021, but we just have to rescind essentially a bunch of other pieces that are now no longer needed.

B

um I did hear from uh Lieutenant Kissinger today, though, that they've so I'm, not sure if you folks are aware of this, but they're trying to get the same set of ordinances adopted over at the town and the city, so the police can follow one guy, yes, um and so in those discussions, um they've heard from the town attorney that it might be pretty difficult to enforce the aggressive panhandling component of that.

B

So as we look at this, we may just want to look at that one section um and we can have a body and take a look at that for you guys. um So um we have to do this through a public hearing process. So the the recommendation in front of you right now is to warn a public hearing for your December 14th meeting, um so we can get that in there correctly.

B

um We do also have to incorporate in your minutes the complete strikethrough change, that's being proposed um foreign I, think at the moment that can be done on the night of the minutes from the 14th. um If that can't happen, we might need to extend this process, but that's the Hope um and then yeah go from there.

B

um There are some other ordinance topics that have come up as of late um smell from Cannabis operations, Ducks um unregistered vehicles on roads and a number of other things that definitely will take more time to research and figure out.

B

um My recommendation to you tonight is that we don't have the capacity to get into those issues right now.

B

um So that's my suggestion is that we kind of move forward, get this ordinance cleaned up, so the police and the public are clear what the public uses ordinance is um and then uh focus on these other issues. When we we can get some time to do that and.

A

So just to compartmentalize sort of our conversation um Regina. Would you say it's appropriate what if we first, let's focus on the uh the rescissions and amendments uh to get that process laid out and then, after that, after that motion, we can then have the separate conversation around the other. The other topics, yes,.

G

A

G

And where does the and and while that's happening we'll deal with it, aligning the city and town on what we have adopted and they're still working on the topic yeah for the new and that's going to happen parallel or yeah.

B

G

When it happens, that's.

B

A good question I'm, not sure exactly where the town is in their process and getting the document that you folks adopted in 2021, where they are in getting that across the the Finish Line.

B

um So I can look into that too, because I, it's a good question about whether there's going to be anything else that ends up being different between the town version and the city. I think there were a few things.

G

You know spending great time watching their meetings, yeah yeah. um There were a few things like the um public nudity right. The public hearing Nation such um I think this truck. But you know I, guess it's a matter of how much the PD really wants to align. I think you know, but also a great conversation as to whether some of that stuff always going to be possible yeah. Considering the differences um which I don't know.

B

Yeah well, I can certainly figure out where they are in their process and and make sure that you've got the information for December 14th and you can.

B

Yeah I, don't know how many changes I can bring you on the night of the 14th. If we warn the public hearing tonight so.

G

As long as we can get, this card done right right.

B

G

Don't really need to we've already done the other. The.

K

New one: yes, yes, we're.

A

G

A

And we can have the the police department when the town figures out their portion. They can always come back to us with what those changes were. We can then reopen that and have those conversations for a period of time, yep we'll get there yep, so yeah I'm perfectly fine, personally, just moving forward with uh I guess, cleaning up our our ordinances and cleaning that up so that way, we can then have a better organized, less duplicative document.

A

So with just that, first portion I would entertain the motion.

D

Sure I will move that the city council warrant of public hearing on December 14th at 6, 30 PM for the following changes to the Essex Junction Municipal ordinances. I, will read them now. We sin chapter six regulation of soliciting chapter: seven: noise, ordinance, chapter 10; regulations of public indecency in Chapter, 13 regulations of public nuisance in their entirety, amend chapter nine enforcement by deleting reference to 6, 10 and 13, and amend chapter 16., ordinance prohibiting graffiti defacement of property and placing substances in public fountains by rescinding sections, 1601 and 1602..

D

A

You George, can you get a second second. Thank you Raj, any further discussion hearing, none all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

F

A

Don't suppose, please say nay, great so I pass unanimously.

D

And then I will move that staff prioritized to research for other ordinance issues, including smell ducks and unregistered Vehicles hang.

A

On a quick second, there nope, oh yeah, okay, um so so now we're into the second part of the conversation. Sorry to interrupt you, okay, uh it's fine, so that is if we want to um this is now if you want to have staff prioritized doing the research for these other topics. If we do, we have Regina acting as the interim zoning administrator. We don't have a community development director, and so, if we allow for this, then that means other things need to come off the table.

G

Oh okay can I back up one step right. Did you which one of those did you read I.

D

Read the top one right.

G

Okay, no so I believe that was the correct all right.

D

I I, misunderstood Andrew, I thought I mean I gave a lot of latitude to the word prioritize. We don't really know how long that is, but I I'm, sorry and I I will rescind the part of it. I I, don't I'm, not really yeah. It's.

A

It's a question from staff of: do we want staff to prioritize these initiatives right now over other things? Can.

D

I ask a specific question relative to this. I know there was a gentleman in here at our last meeting and he his what he obviously wanted. The the um the chicken ordinance amended Is that real is that what this is about, I.

A

Know that we have both uh residents in the room as well as online who, who uh wanted to speak to the the duck portion.

D

Okay, well, I mean yeah. Okay, I can I'll I'll I'll, take back what I was reading and I'll um sit and listen and learn.

A

But even before we we specifically get into to Ducks just again that is the portion of in Regina Police correctly, if I'm wrong, whether or not we want to have staff to take the time to research, these efforts, uh and if so, then we would need to figure out what is coming off the table so that that way, staff can do that. Work, correct, okay, Rock.

G

I guess I'd want to have an opportunity and I don't think it's now, because we haven't had a chance to think about it to really think about the totality of what's coming. You know, I.

M

G

Like we have, you know with Regina arriving, we had a huge list of things to do. We I'm still trying to wrap my head around and then to this week, go through. You had sent an email five or six months anyway. Yep I would really like to have an opportunity to get together as a board and see where we are generally before we ask staff to go any further.

G

Then we absolutely have to on things that I feel are extra right now and by extra I, don't mean they're unimportant I don't mean that they aren't someone's priority, but um everyone is very limited and we have things we have to get done for the city yeah. um That I still think are very open questions um and.

F

As far as the ordinance specifically are concerned,.

G

I know that were we to go out and spend a few minutes, we'd probably have other people coming with other priorities and I think we should have a bigger picture of what those are um I know of a couple instances that have been back. Burnered and people have been very patient as we make this transition and they've been asked to be patient for a year or two, so I.

H

G

Having a larger conversation around prioritization would be helpful.

A

And along that line, I know Regina and I have talked a little bit about having just a general strategic planning opportunity for our board uh and for staff, uh potentially have involvement from committees and Beyond to really help ensure that we sort of have that North Star as to what is it we're trying to do we're building a city, that's great and wonderful, and what's next, and how are we going to get there aligning that with our budget process, aligning that with overall strategic goals to report back onto the community of our progress so far, so we're having some of those conversations and certainly I, will bring that back to the full board.

A

Once you can kind of get to a point where we can breathe again, maybe and.

G

Getting and getting input too, you know I mean you know having that back and forth with the community said. This is what this still has to be done um and being able to ask the questions and get the feedback yeah.

B

And I'll, just if I may clarify that the thinking of that strategic process is definitely intended to give it some really good time. So we're thinking this would be starting in the spring late winter spring to help prepare us for the fy25 budget, not necessarily for the fy24 budget. As of that's um upon us right now, so right.

A

Three weeks, foreign.

A

So in terms of that prioritization process, or that whether the the council should have staff prioritize some of these issues, um I do know that there are community members who wanted to speak on these topics. I believe that there are a few here in the room and I know there's one online. uh Last time we prioritized those in the room, so this time we'll prioritize those online.

A

uh So if you wanted to speak to this issue as members of the public and you are on Zoom, if you don't mind, just raising your hand just to make sure using Zoom to raise your hand or on the camera, thank you Jason. So that way, I can see how many people that we have and then in the room, just to raise your hand as well. Okay, great I, appreciate that so there's a couple of hands up uh Jason. If you want to go first, uh that'd, be greatly appreciated.

A

I, see Sharon with her hand as well, so Sharon you can go after. My only ask is if we can keep each person to under five minutes. um That would be greatly appreciated, so Jason. If you want to go ahead and unmute yourself floor is yours,.

N

Hi um yeah, so just to clarify um I did not request to change the uh chicken Orden ordinances. I didn't want to change any ordinances at all. I requested a uh an exception so that I can keep uh my ducks in accordance with the uh agricultural program, but um I haven't received any complaints regarding cannabis.

N

I do have the city's only craft uh cannabis cultivation, that is a commercial operation. um So if there has been any complaints, I would I'd be interested to hear it now.

N

um But as as of yet the only thing I've heard of uh in terms of a complaint of smell is the Ducks um so like, as I said before, I'm asking for an exemption in this one instance not to change the actual documentation.

N

So uh I understand that the the council has a lot of priorities at this point. However, um when I spoke with the counselor earlier, um if you guys don't make this a priority, then I'm gonna have to slaughter all my ducks and start over. uh So I would prefer not to do that.

N

um The the Ducks are uh an integral part of the permaculture for the Cannabis. You know, cultivation I have and uh I use it to create the fertilizer I need for the cultivation.

A

Thank you, and just for full disclosure for everybody when Jason was referencing speaking to a counselor, he and I spoke earlier, um uh just as a part of ensuring that Jason knew this was coming up and then just some follow-up questions from there.

A

N

Well, I think you know in terms of resources in terms of getting an objective opinion, you know if it would take one member or, however many members of the council to go visit, Sharon's, property and and see you know if there is an actual smell um that you guys would inappropriate and we can move from there.

A

Thank you for that. Jason um I, I yeah I, appreciate that. Thank you.

A

N

um No I mean otherwise I mean uh I'm, not asking to change any documentation. I was hoping to get a a an exemption so that that's my request.

A

Thank you, uh and just for everybody else as it's your turn, please make sure that you address any questions or comments to me and we'll we'll go from there. If I can answer them, I'll try to find somebody who can in the room or else it'll just have to wait until another time to be answered uh so Sharon uh you're next.

M

Hi there, thanks for taking my comments, um so um I.

M

Have had a couple of conversations with Jason um about different things that have gone on most recently um about a month ago about the Ducks as well as the Cannabis smells um I am not the only one who has made complaints or feels that there is an issue.

M

um We can't use our backyard, Our Deck or our front patio in the summer, because in the summer heat the smells are so bad, um certainly from cannabis, but also there's some other stench overriding it, because we've been dealing with the Cannabis smell for a couple of years now, so we kind of have gotten familiar with that.

M

Unfortunately, um we're not the only people, everyone on the street notices when people walk by on the street and if they've stopped and talked to you at the um you know, wherever you are in your driveway doing, yard work doing gardening people ask about the smells people ask about the sounds about the duck. Sounds um there's a lot of noise from the Ducks as well. There is also a clear ordinance about four chickens.

M

It's pretty clear! So um you know Jason has said he is raising them for a number of reasons, one including that they're going to be used for food.

M

Okay, I respect that I respect all those things, but we are in a neighborhood where it is our Lawns are next to each other, and our properties run right alongside of each other. We've lived here for 20 years and it is very, very difficult for us to even have any Peace of Mind in the summer in Vermont when you want to be outside so um yeah. We have a problem with it and it is so we you know we are hoping that the board, if you do take this up- that you actually do do some.

M

um You know canvassing of other neighbors and other people in the neighborhood, because it is obvious we are some of the closest people. However, so we are affected the most, but it's really unpalatable to be here in the summer. It's not bad now, because it's winter and it's cold, so I will stop there because I'd probably be gone by five minutes.

A

uh Not yet, but I hear you sharing. If that's all that you have.

M

Say more about you know, predators and things and Vermin and mice and I'm worried about diseases. But you know those are all things that come along with farms and this isn't an agricultural area and that's not what we signed up for when we bought this property either. So.

G

A

Go ahead, Rush Sharon.

G

You said something about a couple of years for this activity and cannabis: has there been cannabis growing there for a couple of years, or has it just been this past few months, nope.

M

It's been a couple of years um as many as three for cannabis, probably two for ducks, um possibly more for cannabis. I know, Jason, has told us in the past I think we often get told what he wants us to believe, but um we've been told originally that it was because he has a broken back and it's for pain, Matt.

M

It helps his pain and it's a medical thing. That's fine, we're respectful of that. It's just that. It doesn't feel like it's there's reciprocity in that you know, um I'll I think I think a little bit of it makes a little bit of a spell, and it's rather tolerable. You know people smoking it it's it's happening all around town anyways, but we've dealt with huge swaths of air coming over for short periods of time in the past, as well with people smoking, marijuana.

M

Okay, you shut your windows for a little bit. You shut your doors, you go back, you know if you're out eating on your deck, you go inside. Okay, that is, it is a bummer, but now it's non-stop all summer.

G

M

Literally, all summer, the heat of the summer, so anyhow, that is really the bottom line.

A

Thank you, Sharon uh I'm, not seeing any other hands up on Zoom. So as we come back into the room, uh I believe the gentleman in the front here, I'm, sorry, I, didn't I, don't know your name Stephen! Thank you! Stephen. uh If you don't mind, just uh come on up to the the microphone here.

F

Thank you, uh so Stephen, really bad news, um yeah I think Sharon hit most of the points um that I had intended to say as well. um I think it's important to note that uh so to the question of you know how long that cannabis has been growing. It has been several years, I, don't know exactly and this this past season, I, don't know you know. I didn't count them, but there were 20 to 30 large plants. Jason did a fantastic job of cultivating.

F

You know he had gigantic plants and we could tell um uh from the smell um the use of uh I mean whether it's the the um duck feces or other things. There have definitely been um not as bad as the liquid manure you get when you're near the Farms, but really terrible smells around the entire house front front yard backyard doesn't matter um when there's runoff, uh our our Lawns are sloped and, of course, there's no water block.

F

So when there's runoff the entire side of our house, uh the side yard um is covered in water. That has come down from both yards, so we don't know what's in it, but we still have to you know, walk through it. If we want to walk around that side of the house, um uh the I think it's also important to note that you know this, isn't one two three or four ducks you know, as as the chicken noodles would say, we're talking about I think it's 14 or 50 in Ducks.

F

Right now- and you know he started with Seven Chicks a couple years ago, and it's pretty much gone up from there. So it's not. um It may be reasonable to to have some exception, for you know following the chicken rules, but with ducks, um but probably not for three or four times the allowed quantity uh regarding noise. um I think I had sent it an email um about some of this, but um you know we we typically so our bedroom is on the opposite side of our house.

F

From from Jason's property, uh we typically run a an air conditioner or a noise maker of some sort uh to overcome the noises of Route 15, uh and we can still hear the ducks in the middle of the night. Sometimes they get riled by something and suddenly there's just loud noise.

F

I

We don't know what.

F

It is, but it's noticeable so I think that hit.

A

Everything- okay, great appreciate that Stephen. Thank you thanks.

A

So we had the the question in front of us um I think just from from what I'm hearing personally, once we have a community development director hired some of these seem like great projects as they're coming on board. Things like smell uh would be great to to have uh some type of resolution on, but at this point in time personally, I don't see the Precedence for uh before prioritizing all of this now, especially given the Staffing vacancy and being in the point in time of budget season.

A

As we're trying to finalize this upcoming Year's budget figure out the vote so personally, I'm in favor having the ordinances that we have and as we have increased Staffing capacity. Picking some of this up in a that subsequent time period,.

A

Counselors anybody feel differently, no.

H

I think uh I agree with you, the I remember when we established this ordinance relating to foul chickens uh Ducks. What have you and uh many of these issues that have been presented tonight were things we discussed back then? Did you recall you know, and uh and no it's you know, it's tough, the Staffing. We have right now to address these things.

H

I understand that, but definitely something that we need to address and, uh as she said earlier, you know coming on on winter, pretty soon here in the you know, maybe some of the smells won't be so bad, but definitely something to look at.

A

Great uh amber George anything.

D

A

So with that, if we're not asking staff to do anything differently, then there's no need for emotion, uh no need for a vote, and so with that I guess. Thank you for those of you who came out and and spoke um and we'll move forward with the status quo as to what we have, uh as things change, I'm sure we'll reach back out to uh start some of these conversations about how best to help mitigate smell uh so on and so forth and we'll take it from there and I appreciate all of your patience.

A

So thank you all and I see that we have Charlie Baker in the room. So uh we'll rearrange the agenda a little bit to just uh Jump On In with Charlie and having a presentation from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.

E

Thank you very much. Thank.

A

You appreciate.

E

You again making the adjustment yeah and uh good to see you in person again for the first time in three years, I think um and I think uh Elaine Haney I think maybe trying to dial in as well I, don't know if she's there, but uh so um I think you got our annual report in your packet.

E

um I just wanted to kind of briefly review that- and this is, um as you remember, kind of a customer service call I just wanted to see how we're doing in terms of providing services to you, like you, know, giving you a new city manager little little things like that. um No worries, no issues, you're.

D

Not going to charge us extra.

E

Yo, there's a there's, a there's, I'm sure, there's a good seat, but uh so, um but back to the report. uh The first page gives you background uh about the RPC, um including uh membership on our board, a little bit about our finances and how we leverage uh local dues to bring in state and federal dues into the region. uh Your representatives on our board and committees. uh Thank you. They've been very active thanks to Dan who's, a very regular attendee at our board meetings and active participants.

E

I appreciate that um the second page, um and just a little bit under the third, uh have things that we specifically did with the The Village last year um now City, uh including uh Regina, working on your zoning ordinance.

E

um Bylaw amendments um was probably the biggest project we had last fiscal year um and apparently she worked too well on that. um So that won't happen again um and then I I'd ask for feedback, but I I can see the result. So um uh I don't know if there's any other feedback on other projects, or you know some of the data collection or other things uh that you want to give me but happy to take that. At this point sorry.

A

um Just really, frankly, just appreciate ccrpc in general, um the things that you've you all have done for Essex Junction, whether it's a village or a city, it's hands down greatly appreciated um the the work that you you have done and has been going on for years. uh Congratulations as well with Darren right.

E

I know uh it was tougher last night or yeah. The other night yeah in Essex agreed.

A

So what goes around comes around you know it does. You know we greatly appreciate it. The ccrpc it absolutely instrumental in uh helping us as a municipality to do the things that that we need to do for our community. So we greatly appreciate you and your your role within the community and some of the more uh broad things as well like the building homes together campaign. Yeah. Sorry, if you're going to jump into.

E

That yeah well I was going to move on to the third and subsequent Pages. uh You have one big project in the capital program, Crescent connector, so glad to see that moving through the process. It's it's been a while, yes, um but yeah, all good things um and then yeah and then the last few pages have some Regional things like, including that building homes together campaign or um we are going to have legislative breakfast in person.

E

December 8th, so uh heads up um you'll be probably be getting an invite yeah, probably to tomorrow or Friday for that, and then you know we're working on Equity issues and a lot of other issues at the end there, if there's any questions or feedback on any of that, happy to happy to take that too I.

A

Think one of the things that might be beneficial for our board is in terms of that conversation around equities.

A

Have not spent any time on uh since separation, we do have a a committee with Essex best who's doing some work now, but we as our own board, have not had a conversation as it relates to equity, how we are furthering uh our community towards that that goal of being a more inclusive and Equitable Community um and so I think that it might be beneficial to have a conversation at some point in time about how we might be able to Leverage. What has already been done by the ccrpc to help us in this.

A

In that Vantage Point yeah.

E

I think that's very much on our minds. Also, that's how we can support those conversations across the municipalities. um It may be a little bit at least one early concept is a little similar conversations as we did with the housing issue where somebody used to host housing. Convenings um and you know, have the the different housing committees in the towns just share experiences and learn from each other, so I think we may be heading that way with the equity work.

E

Also, there's enough going on in different municipalities to learn from and I think it's a good question about. You know what what happens at the city council level and what kind of training or anything else you might have here so we'll give that some thought too. All.

G

Right, you know on that. On that note, it would be interesting and I don't know if this is I. Guess in my head, I was thinking. This might be more of the LCT thing, but I don't see why I couldn't use the crpc or yeah it works, um but you know we have all of these different efforts going on um in in very small Geographic areas. Taking up a lot of time and I. Think um not the time is a bad thing: it's not bad.

G

It's not poorly spent, but it's redundant in some ways and you know I think our board would benefit for spending quite a bit of time. Regularly on this um and I know, other boards were too I'm just you know, and thinking about it. What's the best way to do that, yeah you know, um is it having breakfast around tables or efforts, monthly or quarterly and different numbers go? Is it having larger Retreats for two or three boards show up and do work together with some staff?

G

You know is that a Saturday morning spent with facilitation or multiple boards from multiple communities can get together. You know I, think I. Think those conversations need to happen because counting on every single Community to recreate this, often with the same consultants and the same facilitators, um is burdensome overly expensive, redundant um and time consuming for the people, perhaps like ccrpca, has to put it on so I'd love to have that conversation about how we can bring now, we can bring that to a greater scale.

H

G

More efficiently, but you know and I think frankly, if the more of those differing boards that we're bringing together the better the conversations are going to be and the better the learning is and the ideas will flow better. um It's.

H

G

The five of us they're normally together yep.

E

um By also learning from your peer grad.

G

The wsk is going to have a vastly different approach and thought process than this sport yeah. So um you.

F

Know that's kind of something that.

G

I was going to bring up our strategy session when you know when it comes up, but I I would love to to see if ccrpc could partner with it, and also because you have this this much larger View of what's going on in the in the county in the state, you know um so anyway, that's a long-winded, yeah.

E

No I think that's good thoughts and and I. You know talk regularly to Ted Brady too, and we talk about this issue about you know how to you know partner at times or should just share information. Of course, they've they're, probably a little bit further ahead of us. They have some some tools that they've put out there online and they have their uh ideal cohort I. Think that's the right one um there's an epic cohort too, but um maybe I think maybe they're doing epic I apologize.

E

There's a couple different cohorts going on uh in equity work um that might be that's Statewide you might want to plug into it. I think we're kind of following that a little bit but I do think. There's yeah some opportunities here and even for the community I think you know. If the same community members are getting asked the same kinds of questions from different perspectives: yeah, maybe we can make it more efficient, for um you know those people that haven't typically been represented, Yeah.

G

In our meetings, folks come in and talk over and over and over about their experience and actually start being becoming a little victimizing.

H

G

You know anything we can do to.

H

Yeah brainstorm.

G

A better process.

E

um Yeah, that's that is good and we're very much in the early stages. You know we're um been working for a number of months, but just forming an equity advisory committee. Now, that's um actually I think this month we're going to formally appoint members um so we're still in the very early stages also, but thank you for letting me know that and that's good thoughts, yeah any other feedback or questions. Okay, sorry,.

A

E

G

Thank you so much. Thank you. Charlie thanks.

A

All right, uh so our next business items, so business, 5D, 5e and 5f are all conversations that we would be having in executive session uh and as such, I would request that we move past those and go into the consent items so that then, when we come back, we just have the executive session items to go through.

A

So if we're good with that move into the consent.

G

I'll move that we accept the consent agenda.

A

Second, any further discussion hearing, none all in favorably, signified by saying aye.

B

A

Those opposed, say, nay, Grace so fast, unanimously, uh going into the reading file and board member comments. The only thing I just wanted to mention is I greatly appreciate the work of those of you who spend time at the polls yesterday, uh whether that be volunteering for a few hours.

A

uh Those of you who volunteered for half the day the full day some of our heroes uh like Diane Clemens, as well as our our city, clerk Susan, McNamara Hill, who spent somewhere around 16 to 18 hours, I believe at the polls and so greatly appreciates them their efforts in helping to ensure that we have democracy into its finest and allow us to continue in this Democratic process that we cherish so deeply. So I'd greatly appreciate the work from from all of you were able to do that. So thank you. All foreign.

D

But it was great I appreciate that being put in there. um I would like to maybe um I'm hoping that will reappear. You know on our budget day just so we have that to to look at and think about. That was a very good thing.

B

To have yeah, yeah and um Ricky is very appreciative to see that percentage increase and.

K

B

Good, we are in comparison to a few few years.

D

B

And he attributed that to you folks, giving more um funds towards the paving.

H

Effort so much.

B

Appreciated yeah.

G

One thing I was going to say is: ask Virginia how it's going.

B

It's going pretty good.

G

Yeah Big Trees.

B

Yeah Terry's back from vacation today.

H

B

It's all good, it's uh getting learning more every day, still feel a little unorganized still haven't gotten out and spent time and met as many people as I would like staff included, um but yeah.

A

Appreciate it Regina. Thank you.

B

A

We have no other board member comments.

A

uh These motions are going to take a little bit yeah.

D

Why don't you do them Andrew I'm, not there. Yet.

A

I will admit that it's one of the things about this is that it's not always easy to navigate from document to document. That might just be me, uh so I assume, let's just go through all of them. Is everybody? Okay, if we just go through all of these motions at once, and just have one one long vote great now that I said that I gotta get back to you, though I got.

D

A

Do you want me to do it? uh I got one here too I I think I got them right here, so I'll move to find that premature general knowledge regarding contracts associated with the tree farm recreation facility would clearly place a city at a disadvantage, because the council risks disclosing its negotiation strategy. If it discusses a contract terms in public I.

A

Further move that we go into executive session to discuss contracts under the provisions of title, one section: 313 A1 of the Vermont statutes and to negotiate or secure real estate purchase or lease under under options again or lease options under title one section: three one: three, a two of Vermont statutes and include Regina Mahoney, Brad luck and Harlan Smith I would further move.

A

But the city council make the specific finding that general public knowledge of contracts to place a city at a substantial disadvantage. I, yet again would move that the city council entered into executive session to discuss contracts pursuant to one VSA section, 313 A1A, to include the city, council, city manager and water quality.

A

Superintendent I would further move it's going to be a bit that the city council will make the specific finding that General, the general public knowledge of contracts, replace the city at a substantial disadvantage and then, with the city council, enter into executive session to discuss contracts pursue one two one VSA section 313 A1A to include the city, council and city manager and last but not least,.

A

Now I don't have the one on personnel.

A

uh All right, let me see if I can just associate that one for a moment.

B

If you go to 5 f on the bookmarks on the side,.

B

Should be able to find oh.

A

Okay, that one's for personnel.

G

A

Okay, so I did make that motion uh that was within 5f, okay,.

B

Yeah so sorry there isn't a memo for the.

A

Personnel right yeah.

B

Motion, you can, can you make it on the Fly.

A

I would move that the city council enter into executive session to discuss Personnel issues pursuant to one VSA section 313, and to include the city, council and city manager.

G

Okay wow. Second, all of.

A

Them thank you. Raj I love that role. Thank you. Any discussion on all that hearing. None all in favor, please signify by saying hi hi. Those opposed, please say, nay great, to pass unanimously. Thank you. All I will give the room a little while um when we go into executive session, that's just for the board to have these conversations in private.

A

um When we come out, we are expecting a couple of decisions at the end, correct, Regina, a couple motions at the end, um so when that happens, we'll just open the doors back up, but at this point in time, thank you all for coming out tonight, really appreciate it.

A

If you want to hang around for when we come back into public session, if you don't mind hanging outside of the wooden doors, so exit this door here on my left, your right that other door to your right, um we'll have those shut and we'll open them back up when we're ready to come back to public session.

A

So thank you all.

A

Thank you, everybody. We are back to the city council meeting for November 9th 2022 coming back into a regular session. uh I would first move to silly to the silly that the city council authorized a municipal manager to sign the agreement for the sale of wastewater treatment, capacity between the city of Essex, Junction and the town of Williston, and it is further recommended that the revenue generated from the sale of this capacity go to the sanitation Capital fund.

A

D

A

Thank you, George. Any.

H

A

Discussion hearing none all in favor, please signify by saying aye.

A

Grapes that pass unanimously and lastly um I would move at the city council approve of the tree farm recreation facility, lease and spirits and management agreement between the town of Essex city of Essex, Junction and tree farm management, group and spirit and authorize the city manager to execute these agreements in their final form.

A

Second garage any further discussion on the motion hearing, none all in favor, please signify by saying aye aye, as opposed to say great, so I pass. Your name is say again. Thank you all, and we are, at the end of the agenda, entertain a motion to adjourn so oops sacrifice. Okay, so Raj had the motion dancing with all those in favor, please signify by saying unanimously. Thank you all have a good night.